Minister Scindia Demands Better Credit Access for Northeast India

Aizawl: Union DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia met with bankers and state officials in Aizawl on Tuesday for the North East Bankers’ Conclave 3.0. The event focused on regional financial growth. Scindia noted that this was his 35th trip to the region during his two years and eight months in office.

Growth is happening. Between December 2024 and March 2026, banks opened 131 new branches and installed 126 ATMs. Out of 9,479 target villages, 6,905 now have banking or postal access. Scindia pushed for more registrations under the PM Jan Dhan Yojana and PM Vishwakarma, while urging banks to focus on lending.

He challenged the participants to produce 40 actionable paths based on four core themes: Last Mile, Loans, Livelihoods, and Lifelines. Scindia wants clear timelines for these goals before the next conclave. He praised Mizoram for its digital payment success and its work with the PMJJBY and PMSBY schemes.

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma also addressed the crowd. He argued that banks must do more than hold cash. He said, "The most important function of a bank is not merely safeguarding the public’s money, but creating opportunities for human upliftment and empowerment."

Lalduhoma reviewed the Priority Sector Annual Credit Plan 2025-26, calling for more support for MSMEs. He also noted that northeastern states continue to struggle with a lack of Corporate Social Responsibility funding compared to the rest of India.